AP – Islamabad, October 31, 2004. American and Pakistani forces closed in on Al Qaeda terrorists hiding outside Khandahar near the Pakistani border today, and after a protracted battle, captured the illusive head of the Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden.
Pakistani officials said bin Laden surrendered after a ten-hour battle pitting American Delta Force commandos and Pakistani Rangers against a large group of Al Qaeda rebels found hiding in a maze of caves in the mountains outside Khandahar.
US Army spokesperson, Col. Frank Magni, of the 17th Public Affairs Detachment told reporters that bin Laden was badly wounded in the firefight which lasted all night. It was only after bin Laden’s entire headquarters unit had been killed that he surrendered to the Delta Force commandos, early Sunday morning. With him was his top lieutenant, Ayman Al Zawahri, who reportedly was killed early in the siege.
Pakistani sources said bin Laden’s wounds were not life-threatening. He was taken by plane to an undisclosed US military base possibly in the Philippines for medical attention.
The ten-hour firefight concluded with bin Laden’s surrender, and over twenty-five Al Qaeda were taken prisoner, some said to be high-ranking officials.
Col. Magni said three American and twenty-eight Pakistani soldiers were killed in the exchange. Al Qaeda casualties are said to number around 100.
American and Pakistani forces were said to be acting on a tip that came from a source close to bin Laden, who was arrested late Friday night.
“This is a great day for Afghanistan, and a great day for the world,” said Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Karzai went on to say that he was declaring a national holiday for Afghanistan, and encouraged all Afghani’s to celebrate the victory.
President Bush, when asked to comment, said, “We are winning the war on terrorism, and this is solid proof. I hope this puts to rest any questions about who should lead this country for the next four years.”
Democratic candidate Senator John Kerry’s campaign aides had no official comment at press time.